This is such a neat idea... I would love to do a program of this style. That's all I got, I'm out of energy to think of anything creative.

Dying to hear how it went osuche!

Well...we made breakfast for the kids (scrambled eggs, hashed browns, fruit salad, cinnamon toast, and juice). One of the kids came down and helped us with breakfast.

After everyone ate, they had quiet time. All the craft ideas (I'd brought animal pics and crayons, and toothpicks/marshmallows) got trumped. It seems that one of the kids had tried to run away the night before, and the entire group was on a kind of "lock down."

We were gently encouraged to leave and let the kids work out their problems with their counselors.

One interesting thing...we had 8-10 year olds and their maturity ranges varied widely. The kids were really sweet and we spent breakfast telling jokes and riddles. I'd love to go back another time, under better and less rushed circumstances.

Thanks to Lil and Wyndhy for the great ideas...I *will* use them in the future.

Sounds like what happens to me all the time. I make the best plans for fun and then one of them does something stupid. Often they sabotage themselves.

...almost as if they feel they don't deserve it. :(

exactly.

:( I'm going to go back. I felt as if these kids had so many transient adults come into their lives that the guard was too fully up. The place was really nice and homey, and the kids were just sweet kids. I want my next experience to be better, and last longer.